Miracle at Panaka Narasimha Temple Mangalagiri
There are 1000s and 1000s of Hindu temples scattered all over India and many in other countries around the world. Many among them have stories and legends associated with them that make the temples special and famous. Vijayawada too has its quota of several temples revered for their special importance. Mangalagiri Temple is one among them.
In this post I have elaborated on Panaka Narasimha Temple from Mangalagiri a town 17km from Vijayawada city. Mangalagiri, the word, translates to Divine Hill. The town itself has several temples, while the hill has 3 most popular temples of the town.
Can you believe the deity here, Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, is offered jaggery (molasses) juice during puja (Hindu worship service)? Jaggery juice is called panaka in local language. It was hard for me to understand that, as all my life I have known fruits and flowers are given in offerings. What surprised me more is that there was both a scientific as well as spiritual arguments in favor of this practice!
Miracle at Panaka Narasimha Temple
The miraculous thing that happens here in Panaka Narasimha Temple every day is that the deity accepts only half of your offering, how much ever may be the quantity! Say you offer 1 litre of jaggery (molasses) water; the priest pours it into the mouth of deity along with chant of mantras.
You can very distinctly hear the gargling sound, as if the deity is gulping it all. The decibel level reaches a peak and then slowly dies down. At the end of this exactly half the amount of the liquid poured is regurgitated (thrown back) from the mouth of the deity. This is collected and offered as prasad to the devotees.
The atheists among you definitely are looking for an answer I am sure. Scientists clearly say that the Vijayawada-Guntur region of Andhra Pradesh is a seismically active zone. The region was once active volcanic region. Sugar or jaggery juice neutralizes the sulfur compounds present in the volcano, thus preventing the volcanic eruption. Somehow the religious faith of offering jaggery juice must have evolved from this scientific fact.
Another miracle you can see here is that there are no ants around. The temple premises store lot of jaggery (molasses) for puja purposes. Despite the use of large amounts of sugar and jaggery you will not be able to find ants or house flies in the temple premises. Isn’t that strange!
Spiritual Beliefs around this Temple
This is one of 8 main temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Narasimha avatar. I have been to 2 other temples – Srirangam and Pushkar. Hope to visit the other 5 at – Srimushnam, Naimisam, Salagamdrim, Narayanasrama and Venkatadri.
Legend of Elephant shaped hill
The hillock on which this temple is built is shaped like an elephant. The story that goes around this is: Emperor Pariyatra had a son called Hrasva Srungi who was born with an abnormality. He visited many pilgrim places to regain a normal body. He then came to Mangalagiri and stayed for three years performing penance to Lord Vishnu.
All Gods advised him to stay back at Mangalagiri and continue the penance. When Pariyatra came to take back his son, Hrasva Srungi took the shape of an elephant as he wanted to become the abode of Vishnu.
Legend of Manifestation of Lord Vishnu here
Interesting thing to note here is that: There is no idol here. The face of Narasimha is carved into the rock with its mouth wide open. There is a golden mask on that carving. Photography is not allowed inside. This is a painting in the premises of the temple.
The legend that explains this is: Lord Vishnu in his Narasimha avatar set out to vanquish the demon Namuchi. To escape Lord’s wrath, the demon transformed himself into an ant and hid in a small crevice underground here. Lord Narasimha closed the crevice thus suffocating the demon to death.
However, the anger of Narasimha did not subside and his face was transformed into the rock. All Gods did what they could to calm his anger but to no avail. It is believed that for calming Himself, Narasimha asked the Gods to offer honey during Sat Yuga, ghee in Treta Yuga, milk in Dwapara Yuga and panaka during Kali Yuga respectively.
And this being Kali Yuga, devotees offer panaka. It is also believed the day ants invade this Mangalagiri temple the world will come to an end!
Timings for Mangalagiri Temple
Mangalagiri temple doors open at 5AM and shuts finally at 8.30PM. In between the Mangalagiri temple pujaris perform different kinds of seva and puja.
Important: If you wish to offer panaka to deity you have to be there between 7AM and 3.30PM.
Devotees must buy coupons to offer panaka to the deity there. The pujari collects the prasada and there is a separate enclosure for distribution of panaka. You can see several pots full of panaka. They distribute panaka in glasses and bottles to the devotees.
I was a little late and entered temple after 4PM. The deity with its huge mouth reminded me of Bhairu ji Temple in Kodamdesar, Bikaner. I too had a glass of cool soothing panaka, it tasted heavenly. You can carry an empty bottle if you wish to bring home the panaka.
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ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಮಂಗಳಗಿರಿ ನರಸಿಂಹಸ್ವಾಮಿ ನಾಳೆ ರಾತ್ರಿಯೊಳಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೈ ಕಾಲಿಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ನೀಡಿದರೆ ನಿನ್ನಯ ದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿ ದಾಸೋಹ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ. ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷ ಒಂದು ವಾರಗಳ ಕಾಲ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಗುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಿ , ಏಳ ದಿನಗಳು ಪಾನಕದ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುವೆ ತಂದೆ.
I would love to visit any of the 1000s of temples in India. What an interesting story of the Panaka Narasimha Temple. SO much to learn from India and the culture.
This is such an interesting read! it’s very interesting to hear about the molasses, and also to learn that only half of the offerings are accepted by the deities! I’ve learned so much just by reading this! – Kam
You are right there are 1000s of temples in India and each one has its won story. But I have never heard of a temple where Jaggery juice is offered to a deity and half of its regurgitated. This is so interesting. The carved rock looks so different and unique. Thanks for sharing the interesting story of Panaka Narasimha Temple.
Fascinating to read about the molasses juice and the connection to seismic activity. Who knew the sugar in molasses juice neutralizes the sulfur compounds and can prevent a volcanic eruption. I wonder if this theory has been tested at other volcanic sites around the world. Regardless, the spiritual stories around the temple are quite intriguing especially the face in the rock.
I am not a religious person at all but unexplained phenomena do intrigue me and sounds like this miracle is an interesting one to understand the explanation behind. I remember a few years ago when it became a big thing that Lord Ganesha was drinking milk all of a sudden and people rushed to temples to see it with their own eyes. Quite an interesting story that at Narasimha temple, the Lord drinks the jaggery offered but only half of it!
It was interesting to read that the Lord Lakshmi Narasimha is given molasses juice as an offering. And how strange that the deity only takes half of the offering. But I would be totally ok with not finding ants or house flies. And would want to try the panaka. Thanks for sharing this interesting fact.
Hindu temples look so exotic to me, but I’ve never seen one in real life unfortunately. I find it quite interesting that offerings of flowers and fruits are given in these temples. But it’s even more interesting to hear how the molasses is being offered at the in Panaka Narasimha Temple. So many beliefs and legends associated with this temple also!
Am paralyzed please bless me Swamy narasimha I offer continue 48 days Panama deva.
As an atheist myself, it was interesting to read your description around Andhra Pradesh being a seismically active zone. I’d love to travel India and visit all of the Hindu temples. As you say, they all have such interesting stories and legends about them
What unusual miracles! Only half of your offering and the half is given back out. And no ants. Absolute miracles!
wow how tall is the Panaka Narasimha Temple from Mangalagiri? Cause when I saw that picture of it towering over the trees I actually said “whoa” aloud!
Thank you for sharing the story of the Panaka Narasimha Temple. You aren’t joking about the 1000s & 1000s of temples in India. When we were there for a month along the west coast, we saw so many that it was amazing and yet confusing for western Christians. But I love all the legend & stories of faith about each temple.
That is totally crazy that the religious figured out that molasses was a great offering for the deity but also benefited the neutralizing of the volcanic activity. So many religious beliefs in many faiths have functional benefits like this.
Now if I can figure out how they keep the mosquitos away despite all the sugar I will use it in my house too!
Have heard about it but I have not visited the temple.Thanks for the informative post.
This is interesting! Will definitely plan a visit here
Glad to know about this lovely temple.